Hollow-back shovel



Sept; 23, 1930- M. HOKANSON HOLLOW BACK SHOVEL Filed Sept. 25. 1922 I/v VEN TOR MAR TIN HoKH/wso/v 177- romvsrc Patented Sept. 23, 1 930 MARTIN HoKANsoN, or DULUTH, MINNEsoTA,"iissreuonjro masnnrln-wnnrscort- VPANY, or DULUTH, MINNESOTA, A .coRroRhTIoN or nEw'JEItsEY 1 HoLLow-BAcxsnovEn T Application filed September 25, 192 2. ,SeIjiat- NO. 590,382 1 The object of my invention is to provide g a shovel in which the handle reinforcing strip I will have its maximum strength and weight the point where the shovelis subjected to the greatest strain, and itsimininium weight and strength at the point where there is comparatively little strain on the handle when in use; in other words, a shovel so'constructed that the maxlmum stress of the metal reinforcement in any section of the handle is" practically proportional toithe strains acting in the same section, thereby providing a strongerand better implement and efiecting it lighter in weight.

a considerable economy in the use of metal in the reinforcing strip, as well as making A further object is to provide a metal reinforcement which willmake it possible to provide a continuous smooth cylindrical surface at the point Where the workmans hand slides on the shovel handle.

'A further object is to provide an improved construction of grip which can be easily and "quickly fitted to the end of the handle and 51 will present a neat, substantialappearance to the end of the shovel, combined with maximumiand minimum weight."

Other objects of the invention will appear I from the following detailed description.

The inventionconsists generally in vari "ous constructionsand combinations all as of the same showin the hereinafter described and pointed out in the Eclaims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a front view of a shovel in which the socket on the'blade is shown on the top of the shovel.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view position of the socket at the front of the blade. I f s Figure 3 is a view of the rear of the blade jshowing its smoothxunbroken surface.

Inthe drawing,"2 represents the blade of the shovel-having the usual hollow back construction as indicated at 3,'the end of the blade being folded to form a socket 4 to receive the end of the handle. This handle is preferably made; of wooden sections5 recessed at 6 so that the surface of the socket will be flush with the surface of thehandle when the parts areass'embled, the end of the handle projectingdown into the, hollow back as usual in shovel construction:

e a reinforcing plate or strip 7, preferablyfof steel, is interposed 1 between thefsections' 5 of the handle, and extends, from end 1 to end thereof; T his steel plate is preferably rolled sojthat'it assumes atapere'd form gradually "decreasing in thickness toward thejgrip end of "the handlewith its point of; maximum thickness v and strength where the wooden handle sections enter thesocketof the blade, for at this point the shovelis subjected to the greatest strain whenj in' use. f At the upper end ofthehandle, or adjacent the gripythe reinforcin'g'plate maybe comparativelythin, forat this 'point'the handle is subjected to its minimumi ader strain. By providing this taper in thejplaterl am able to effect a consifderablesaving'in metal anfdlin theweight of the shovel, and the same time provide a "wide marginjof safety at the point where breakage inithe shovel handle usually occurs.

-Q Iam'a'lso to rfeduce the size of the wood sections atthe point where the workman grips I the handle providing here a continuous,

ing surfaces onwhicli the hands ofthe workman might catch; j a

At the outer end of thehandle, I provide the supporting means f'or the grip proper, consisting of arms 9 stamped from sheet metaland extending, outwardly from a sleeve orcollar 10,'pressed from sheet metal .with the arms, and split longitudinally to fit the reduced end 11 of the handle secured thereto, and to the reinforcement plate by a suitable rivet as described. The arms 9 preferably have a longitudinal rib 1O formed therein which serves to brace and stiffen them, and

at the outer ends of the arms, cups 13 are. formed adapted to receive the ends of a wooden gripfll that is curved slightly 'and is J fsecured' to said cups by a rivet 15 passing lengthwise therethrough andeccentrically to prevent turning of the grip in the handle.v

. rear. When theshovel is madein this-way,

front of the shovel blade instead of atthe the rear surface of the blade will be smooth and unbroken as shownin Figures 2 -and3L The edge of the blade is turned forward or I upwardto" provide a rest for thefoot of the user. a I

I do not wishin this application to confine myself to any. particular sizeo'r thickness of s the steelreinforcin'gj plate or the degree of y taper thereoffthe essential feature being'the I idea of'providing a maximum amount of metal inthe reinforce at the point in'the shovel] handle where the strength is most needed, and reducingthe; metal in the reiinforcingplat'e'to'a minimumfat the point where great strength is notlnecessary. 7 v s g I claim as myiinvention: V 1 x 1 A shovel, scoop or spade comprising a blade turned forwardly at its upper end to form a foot rest and'having an extension at 'said'endifolded forwardly to 'formvatubular 7 handle receiving socket the meeting edgesof the tubular. socket bein g rin front :of the 1 5 blade, a handle composedof separablefsections having'their lower ends fitting into said socket with the ends of the sections rest- 'ing against the front of the blade, a handle.

grip having a'sleeve to. receive, the other end of saidhandle, and a metallic reinforcing plate inserted between thehandle sections and extending into said socket and'said sleeve I a and secured therein. 1 y e 2.f,A shovel, scoopor spadecomprising .a

- blade having asmooth unbroken back surface and turned forwardly at-its upper end to form afoot rest, a sheet; metal extension of 'said bla'de and foot rest centrally arranged thereof'and having upwardly extending longitudinaledges folded forwardly to form a tubular handle receiving socket, a handle comprisinga metallic blade extending from end to end thereof, wooden sections on either i side of the blade in the socket, the blade and i sections terminating'at their lower; end on the interior front of the shovel, a hand grip having a sleeve to receive the upper ends of said sections and blade, and means to secure the sections and blade within said socket and I sleeve.

In Witness whereof, Ihave hereunto setmy hand this 18th day 0fSeptember,1 922. I r v HOK-ANSON.

In Figure 1, the socket l ds Shawnee the if V 

